1.  Khalilgraph and Riddiq – Deportee

Khalilgraph is one of the freshest things to hit the Kenyan hip hop scene in recent years.

I mean the boy is good, and just about the cleverest Kenyan lyricists I know.

To wit “I am a rapper’s worst nightmare/ Freddy and Jason up in here”

On this one Khalilgraph and this dope Riddiq guy recount the experiences and bittersweet experiences of a Kenyan deportee, viewed as failure by many, but mostly just happy to be home.

1. 2.       Kikosi Cha Mizinga versus Ukoo Fulani Mau Mau – Punchline Kibao

Absolute must listen.  Some of Africa’s best MCs on a track with more punch lines than a mother! Here you are reminded by Kama why he is so highly rated as an MC. Tanzania’s Ibra Da Hustla represents Bongo hip hop to the fullest.

Required listening for any fan of African Hip Hop, and a powerful example of how Hip Hop crosses borders and bridges people of different nationalities  and religions.

“Kumark territory so doggy za mitaa zingine hazi kojoi hapa”

Sample this

“Watasmile sana/ kama ule msee wa advert ya chai jaba”

1. 3.       Jahmani – Kiswahili

A protégé of the great Kantai, this rapper from Nairobi’s Westside is perhaps Kenya’s most under rated MC.

Here he takes a line from one of Kenyan pop artist Jua Cali’s tracks and turns it into a Kenyan rap classic.

He’s got wit, pith and humour all in equal measures and a n appreciation of the craft that’s sadly rare in the Kenyan Hip Hop scene

1. 4.       Muthoni Drummer – Mikono Juu Ya Hewa.

One of those extremely clever and witty rappers that I love.  Undoubtedly the Queen of the Kenyan Hip-hop scene at the moment, Muthoni the Drummer Queen achieves one of those rare things in Kenyan Hip Hop, telling a story in rhyme, in an entertaining humorous fashion and with a moral.

1. 5.       Camp Mulla – Party Don’t Stop

Rap critics are going to politic about this one no doubt, but these quartet that’s fast becoming Kenya’s black eyed peas showed off their rap chops on this track, with a catchy ,party feel, clever rhymes, and punch lines that actually make sense.

Taio Tripper‘s abilities as a lyricist especially stand out as he totally eclipses the self declared King of Kenyan Rap Collo on this track.

Great production quality also did little to hurt the group’s chances of appearing on this list. Camp Mulla was also recently nominated in the Int’l category at the 2012 BET Awards.

If you are going to be commercial about this here Kenyan Rap, at least you better be this good.

1. 6.       Taio  Tripper,  Smooth Poet & Muthaland – 82/92

The future of the Kenyan Hip Hop scene can be heard on this track, and the future is great, witty, bubbly, bright, both hood and uptown

Nuff said.

Taio Tripper’s credentials as a lyricist are again affirmed on this track, while Octopizzo firmly affirms his claiom to the crown of Kenyan Hip Hop.

Plus a killer track makes things all that much better.

Like it’s title this song shows just how far Kenyan rap has come, from MCs born in the 1980s  to MCs  born in the 1990s

A master piece of that distinctly Kenyan hip hop sound born in recent years they call the 254flow.

To wit “She likes the way my dick lies like Pinocchio”

“To the fans that ain’t girls pay attention cuz a real man is about to speak”

1. 7.       Kalamashaka  ft. Mashifta – Mangirima

Mashifta are no doubt the kings of the Kenyan underground rap scene. K-Swiss got punch lines, rhymes and metaphors for days.  On this track the two most known rap groups of the Ukoo Fulani Mau Mau rap collective, Kenya’s answer to the Wutang Clan, stay true to their hood roots and deliver yet another rough , ragged and raw Kenyan Hip Hop classic with finesse and ease.

Nazizi the first lady of Kenyan Hip Hop makes a cameo on the track, helping along on its journey to a deserved spot as truly classic Kenyan Hip Hop track.

1. 8.       Kalamashaka – Tafsiri

When “Tafsiri Hii” hit the airwaves circa 1998 the message was loud and clear, Kenyan Hip Hop had arrived. K-Shaka packed an unique, rugged street sound laced with deadly rhymes. Two versions exist of the song, both produced by pioneer Kenyan contemporary music producer Tedd Josiah.

This trio from Dandora in Easyde Nairobi heralded a new age in Kenyan contemporary music

“Tafsiri Hii” cemented K-Shaka’s status as the pioneers of not only the Kenyan Hip –Hop scene but also- the local contemporary music scene as a whole.

Absolute must listen.

1. 9.       Juliani, Johnny Boy, K-Swiss, Agano – Fanya Tena.

Four of Kenya’s finest MCs on the same track, this track is for lack of a better description totally off the hook. 

On this track, we are introduced to Juliani’s abilities as a lyricist, master-metaphorist and a man true to his Christian convictions.

K-Swiss delivers hard hitting, pithy and at times funny lyrics that will make you understand why he is always mentioned in the same breath as other Kenyan Hip Hop greats,  and along with Johnny Boy and Agano  reassert the UKOO Fulani Mau Mau rap collectives’ status as kings of Kenyan  Hip Hop.

On the song’s hook, these MCs let you know that playtime’s over and they are about the business.

1. 10.   Kalamashaka – Fanya  Mambo

 You might have gathered by now that I might be like K-Shaka’s biggest groupie (no homo) on the Internet.

Seriously though whenever Johnny, Kama and Oteraw get on track you know something special is going to happen.  On this track cats killed it.

Conscious as ever, K-Shaka drop mad lyrics detailing stories of their Dandora hood  Nairobi’s rough east side , deliver a track that’s danceable and a video shot in Scandinavia that’s that much easier on the eyes

Arguably Kenya’s best MCs, Kalamashaka bring that undoubtedly street feel to this track, with incredible lyrical finesse, and a beat that will get your head bumping in no time.

1. 11.   Walanguzi – Vaseline

Officially the mad men of Kenyan rap, this group of crazy (like literally) talented Nairobi MCs  belt a spoof of Rick Ross’s Hustlin’ , that leaves you in stitches and with little doubt about their abilities as masterful; lyricists- and prime candidates for the loony bin.

P.S This track is about masturbation (talk about versatility) and is therefore obviously not PG.

“Got more spunk more than the Pacific got water” Loose translation

1. 12.   Bamboo – One Blood

Or how a hip hop mix tape track is supposed to sound. Bamboo, a colossus of the Kenyan Hip Hop scene an one half of the rap group K-South,  takes Kenyan rap international and makes the template for Kenyan mix tape tracks.

The flow is tight, lyrics off the chain and the message clear – Bamboo, and Kenyan Hip Hop scene, is ready to take the global Hip Hop scene by storm.

1. 13.   Juliani – Exponential Potential

Very rarely does a gospel, as in religious artiste, receive acceptance as a genuine hip hop great as much as Juliani.

On this track we meet Juliani all grown up, living the good life, eating the fruits of his hard work, out to inspire and preach the good word as well.

An awesome feel good track full of the vivid imagery and metaphors that only Juliani can deliver so well.

Overall a great track by the Kenyan Hip Hop maestro that is Juliani

1. 14.   Abbas – Mo Fire

“”Mzeiya, niko na ingine kama spare ndani ya boot”

Another track in praise of the almighty Cannabis Sativa brought to you by Mr. Kenyan Rap himself Abbas. Formerly known as Doobiez, and the other half of Kenyan hip hop legends K-South. The red eyed MC has seen it all, done it all and needs little introduction in Kenyan Hip Hop circles. A great flow masterfully delivered, a trademark of this great MC is on show, for all who would care to listen

1. 15.   K-South – Tabia Mbaya

The level of lyrical wizardry on show in this Hip-hop classic is cleverly masqueraded by its mellow laid back track.

Here two of the greatest Kenyan MCs Abbas and Bamboo get together to piece together an extremely entertaining social commentary only these two rap geniuses could.

And while you are at it grab their two classic albums, Nairobbery and Nairobism.

1. 16.   Xstatic Samz –

She is sassy, packs a twang’, a big ass and a hundred pounds of rap oomph. And she is here to stake her claim to the throne of Kenyan rap.

Xstatic is fresh, her flow relaxed, and very much in her element on this track.

One of my favourite female MCs of at the moment, both local and international, Xstatic is primed to take the local Hip Hop scene by storm.

1. 17.    Chiwawa – Mnafeel Aje

“Labda inawezekana, possibly I think maybe/Tunaeza hook up hii Monday nikuonyeshe kile ulimiss weekendi.”

The King of Kenyan Crunk wasn’t always that, but he always was one of the realest MCs I know, and boy, could he spit.

One of the better products of his experiments with crunk on his Hii Mkwanja album circa 2006, Mnafeel Aje, has Chiwawa spitting like a cross between a sub machine gun and a canon. You get the picture.

Get party track with skilful lyricism on show all round with a great track by Babz. Chiwawa claims to rhyme even the punctuation marks on this mother.

1. 18.   Nanoma – Kawaida

Nanoma’s Kawaida is a throwback to the days when one Muthoni Bwika was the Queen, Empress, Dominatrix and everything in between of the local hip hop radio. Everyone would tune in to her afternoon hip hop show most on a local FM station circa 2002. (It’s where I first heard Nas’ “Ether”.)  Muthoni Bwika’s show is where I first listened to Nanoma’s highly charged flow, the work of expert wordsmiths, well versed in Nairobi’s sheng patois.

Nanoma were some of the better MCs of those Cambrian days of the local hip hop scene, and that’s quite saying something. Back then everyone that could rhyme, AB with CD called themselves an MC, but Nanoma stood head and shoulders above the rest.

The track, yet another ode to Cannabis (I know, right?), is a master showcase of everything that was right, with a strong hint of funny, with these MCs.

1. 19.   Kantai – Issues

Heartfelt.

That would be the word that best describes this, and most tracks by one of the better MCs of recent years, Kantai. Kantai had a way of putting his heart into every track he did.

 In many ways the pioneer of uptown contemporary local music, think cats from upmarket Nairobi, with a twang and a foreign sounding accent, Kantai’s music was heavily influenced by his time living in America. Kantai quickly became the link between uptown rap, from Nairobi’s more affluent Westside and it’s tough Eastlands hip hop scene, gaining recognition and wide acceptance in Nairobi’s hip hop circles.

On Issues, Kantai packs emotion, lyrical punch and delivers a great vocal presentation, to instantly connect with his audience..Not sure what happened to black, he seems to be on a hiatus has released little in the past three or so years.

1. 20.   STL ft. Kantai – Happy

“If you’re having a bad day that’s gotta be your own damn problem.”

A feel good track has never felt so hip-hop. Norwegian raised Kenyan artist STL is an extremely accomplished female MC, turned pop artist, an Eurovision finalist and one of only a handful of Kenyans that have ever been signed to a major label. She delivers “Happy”’s upbeat hook, plus a nice first verse

Kantai’s finesse adds a great track that’s bound to leave a smile on your face, most days anyway.

“These CD salesmen be telling me lies/what they saying ( I’ma be broke) till the day that I die”

Album Cover Art

1. KEEP IT REAL feat. Christine Apondi- This is a song that is done in English, Swahili and Sheng languages and it emphasizes on the need of being realistic in everything that one does. Our conscience is usually connected to God hence the need of acknowledging his laws in all our endeavors. The instrumental is a heavy hardcore hip hop track that is laid back.
2. SEMA NAMI- This song, which means ‘Talk to Me’ in English, illustrates the exact point at which the prodigal son was contemplating his return. Since he was disconnected to his family, he was feeling very empty and this is why he needed his father (God) to speak to him. The instrumental used is a hardcore hip hop track.
3. MAJARIBU feat. BlackG & Gas Fyatu [Ukoo Flani Maumau] & Favor- Majaribu is Swahili for ‘Trials’ and the song talks about the everyday trials that human beings normally pass through. Even though most of the trials seem unbearable, God always gives us triumph over them. The instrumental used is quite hard hitting and complements the lyrics excellently.
4. TAFAKARI feat. BlackG & Mzungiki- The title of this track means ‘Meditate’ in English and it is a song that reflects the normal aura that artists usually exist in. Artists are the mirrors of the society which is why it is important to understand their perceptions as well. The instrumental used is afro hip hop and is essentially laid back giving the listener a chance to reflect on the lyrics that are done both in English & Swahili.
5. NINATAMBA feat. Wardhes [Nannoma] & Samondieki [Bakawola Band]- The title of this song means ‘I’m Blowing Up’ and it is done mainly in Swahili & Sheng slang. The theme of the song revolves around giving thanks to God for talent and all the good things in life. The instrumental is a laid back hip hop fused with an African feeling.
6. MAREJELEO (Skit) – This skit is done in Swahili and the title means ‘Comeback’. This is a monologue of what is running through the mind of the prodigal son when he is contemplating on returning home. The instrumental used has a Jewish aspect fused with a hip hop feeling.
7. THE PRODIGAL SON feat. Edinary [Calabash Band]- This is the album’s title and the song breaks down everything that happens to the prodigal son when he returns home and it is done in a hip hop narrative way. The instrumental used is an up-tempo afro hip hop track that has a danceable groove incorporated into it.
8. GOD IS GOOD (Buda Ni Mpoa) Skit- Despite the fact that the prodigal son was hesitant to go back home, he still did so and was surprised with the reception that he got. The skit shows expresses his sheer happiness over a joyful instrumental.

Doo Mambo @ the Bayimba Festival in Jinja, Uganda 2012

9. KUNA BASH- This title is Swahili for ‘There is a Celebration’ and it is a song that portrays the celebration that the prodigal son’s family held because of his return. In addition, the song also artistically refers to the celebration that heaven holds when one soul is delivered. The instrumental used is a party hip hop track.
10. THIS TIME feat. BlackG & Mzungiki- This song reflects the resolution that the prodigal son made when was accepted back home and things went back to normal. The entire featured artists have powerful lyrics that the audience can relate to in everyday life and they flow superbly on the up-tempo hip hop track.
11. NADECLARE WAR; NADECLARE LOVE- This is a declaration of war and love that the artist makes towards various situations. In English, the title means ‘I declare war; I declare love’ and the lyrics point out both the negative & positive aspects of the societies that we live in. The instrumental used is hard hitting so that the message can be driven home efficiently.
12. DON’T STOP feat. Favor- This song encourages people to press on and never to lose hope even when the situations that they are in seem extremely unbearable. The lyrics are in English & French and the instrumental used is urban hip hop fused with house music to give it a contemporary feel.
13. HAYAWI HAYAWI…- This title was derived from a Swahili saying that goes like ‘Hayawi Hayawi Huwa’ and means that when you fail at a venture the first time, you should persist because you will eventually succeed if you do so. The instrumental used has a Spanish guitar that integrates well with the hip hop kick and snare.
14. TEMPTATIONS feat. Gas Fyatu & BlackG [Ukoo Flani Maumau]- This is a song that has been done both in the English and Swahili languages. The theme of the song revolves around the various situations that the devil usually puts people in but also emphasizes on the need to strengthen one’s free will in order to pass through the same. The instrumental used is a fusion of rock and hip hop.
15. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF- This song is done in a military theme and it shows how we are all soldiers in the army of God. The devil wants to lead us to destruction which is why we need to declare war on him and join forces so that we can defeat him and his entire forces. The instrumental used is a military hip hop track.
16. DELIVERANCE feat. Gas Fyatu & Blackgzas [Ukoo Flani Maumau] & Christine Apondi- This song is actually a plea to God to deliver all the lost souls and bring them back. All the artists have used deep lyrics to relay the message and the chorus has been harmonized splendidly as well. The track used is a contemporary hip hop track that has an energetic feel to it.
17. AWESOME GOD feat. Johnson Lwere & Fei- This track is a rendition of the original song done by Don Moen but the instrumental used has a hip hop aspect to it. The lyrics are in Swahili, Sheng and English and the featured artists give the song a modern-day feel.
18. WWJD (Outro) – This is a spoken word piece that has been done without any backup instrumental. It shows all believers and non-believers alike what Jesus Christ would do in the various present-day circumstances.

here it is enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akgQNWPGwgc

Future ni brighter,
Niite fighter,
Mambo ni better,
Kila sector,
Nime tighten boots,
Nime change my looks,
Nime set pace kwa music race.

Anti-Violence music video campaign employing hip hop as a narrative to address the dangers of gun violence. “Guns don’t kill people. people kill people.”

Get Rastaman HERE

I finally tracked down the names of the members of the group. They were originally a group that started out with brothers Andrew and Ken Muturi, and Cool James from Tanzania. Cool James went solo and they added other artists to their roster.

The originial members have changed and are now just a Ugandan. Ken-Zo, and Wayne Beckford. Swahili Nation is based in Sweden. The whole scoop on the group can be found here.

Nonini and Sexually explicit lyrics go hand in hand so it should be said that the videos you will watch could rub you the wrong way. I don’t condone his message nor do condemn it. It is my belief that the artist should express his thoughts and feelings with out public and self censorship.

Like many others, I am curious so see where genge music is headed and with artists like Nonini on the drivers seat, I am certain that it is headed in a very interesting direction.

Click here if you want to check out my PASSION.